Guest Post: Easy Ways to Profit from Stocks

The following is a guest post by Jack of DGB. My policy is to post a variety of guest posts, even if they represent points of view that are very different from my own. In this specific case, I disagree with most premises in the post, however, the readers should judge for themselves. I have added some of my own opinions as an Editor's note at the bottom of the article. The guest post:

Thousands of people start to invest in the stock market with the dream of making millions overnight. But being unaware of the risks involved can cost you dearly. Many people have faced huge financial troubles after suffering overwhelming losses in the stock market. So if you are wondering how to go about making profits in this consistently fluctuating market, then read on.

It’s difficult even for the most experienced stockbroker to pick the right stock at the right time. When it comes to the stock market, you can’t actually rely on anybody’s forecast as each individual will give you a different interpretation. Here are some tips which will help you take the right decisions if you are thinking of investment in the stock market.

1) Be clear about your goal: First of all you need to determine whether you want to opt for the long term or the short term profit. This is important as it will help you decide on the method which you will choose to trade by. It will also help you to judge the type of stocks that you should buy to maximize your investment returns.

If you are going for long term investments, then it’s advisable to check on their performance over the last six months. It’s always better to check out years of data if it is available. You do not need to be an expert to do a company analysis. A good look at the performance of the company in the share market will help you take the right decision.

If your goal is short term profit, then you can opt for day trading strategy. It’s advisable to keep away from volatile markets. Experience will gradually help you to take the right decisions while you are searching for stocks. Look out for companies which do not show a volatile nature in the stock market as there is less risk of suffering losses with them. You should anyhow check out the history of these companies too, though what will really matter to you is the company’s immediate performance.

2) Learn to read charts: You must learn how to read charts. This is important as this will help you to determine the performance of the company in the future. Charts can help you in various ways so it is necessary to understand them before you invest in stocks.

3) Watch the market regularly: A common mistake that people often do is that they start keeping an eye on the market only after they have invested money. Be wise! Start watching the market even before you have invested in order to understand the market better and to boost your chances of success.

4) Begin with small investments: You should start your investment career by investing small. It’s not advisable to risk your money by making big investments until you have gained enough experience.

5) Seek a combination of investments: An effective strategy to build a long term investment plan is to diversify your portfolio in different sectors. Spreading your investments will lower the risks involved and help you in meeting your financial goals.

Making money in the stock market requires learning and experience. The most important advice is never to invest more money than you can afford to lose. Trade wisely and the stock market can prove to be a great source of income for you!

[Editor's note: I strongly disagree with the notion that non-professionals should even consider investing for short term profit in the stock market. I also disagree with the underlying concept of this post, that stock picking is a good idea - Indexing is the way to go for the vast majority of people. While I agree that diversification is a good idea, diversifying within the US stock market is nowhere near sufficient - diversifying internationally, as well as into asset classes different from stocks is a much smarter approach.]

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